Fuel feeding mechanism for burners



Nov. 14, 1933- w L E 1,935,410

FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BURNERS Filed 001',- 24, 1932 Patented Nov. 14, 1933'- 1 UNITED? This invention relates to fuel feeding mechanism for such devices as stoves,-lanterns,' irons, heaters'etc using liquid hydrocarbon fuel-such as gasoline which is vaporized and burned; f

It is the general object of the invention to rovide, for such devices, novel fuel feeding meshanism which is cheap in construction and simple in operation to initially supply an ignitable and free burning mixture of air and liquid fuel from an air pressure fuel tank to the burner to permit starting of the burner without preheating of a generator tube upon which the'burner' plays and then after-the generator'tube is heated up," to supply only liquid fuel from the tank to the generator tube' to maintain the burner in constant operation without exhausting air from the tank.

It is a further objectto provide such fuel feeding mechanism which, as it is used'for the initial lighting of a burner, will accurately measure both the liquid fuel and air admitted to the generator tube so as to maintainan accurate ratio between the air andliquid "fuel."

Another object is to provide suchfue'l feeding mechanism which,while the burner-is in continiii ous operation, will permit the supply of air to Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the tank of the stove and'through the valve body located therein, the tubes located below the valve body notrbeing shown in section;

Fig. 3' is an enlarged detail View showing a por-. tion of the valve body in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a viewon an enlarged scale taken in vertical section through the upper portions of the tubes located below the valve body; and

' Fig. 5 is a view taken, similarly through the lower portions of these tubes; I

Referring'to the drawing, portions of a stove adapted for the burning of vaporized gasoline are illustrated. This stove includes a frame .6, an apertured top plate 7, a liquid fuel tank .8 adapted to contain gasoline underair pressure and secured to the frame 6, a main burner 9, a v

' generator tube 10 located over the burner and on which'the'flaines: from theburner may play, a

iniiiing chamber 11, into which the generator tube- 10182115 and a conduit 12.182idif1g from they mixing chamber 12 to the burner 9. Discharge'of'fuel' from the generator tubelO is controlled bya handle equipped valve 13. These parts arerall of standard construction 'andtneed not befurther described.* I l a I In accordance with thefpresent "invention; I

there is mountedin' the top of the tank 8a valve body 14 having a vertical passage 1412 therenested by a suitable'coupling to the extension wieruns froni adjacent the tank 8 tothe generator tube l0 and is suitably, connected to the tube. to afford communication between the passage 17 the tube a Avalveist'eiii '19 having. a wheel 20 its upper end-'projects'froin above the ,body 14 downwardly into the vertical passage 14a of the body and is equipped at its lower end with a valve 21 which may he seated against the seat 15. The stern l9 ab'ov e'the valve 211is' equipped with an'enlarged' screw=threaded portion 22 which J engages with an internal screw threaded portion the valve bodyr A suitable packing gland 23 fitting" about the stem1'9 engages with thevalve body 14130 preventleakage through the upper end of the vertical-passage l4a.; It will be seen that by turning thewheel20 in onedi-rection,the valve 21 may be withdrawn from the seat 15, while by turning the Wheel 20 in the opposite direction the valve 'may" be causedfto v engage its seat.

Above the valveseat 15', the vertical passage 14a is enlarged to accommodatethe stem 19 and at thesarne time to aiford communication between thepassage l7 and the partof the vertical passagel4a below the valve seat 15 when the valve 21 'israisedi 1 s An inner or primaryiiquid fuel supply tubeu2'4 of an external diameter less than the diameter of .the passage 14c belowvvalve'seat 15, is secured. at

its upperend to the central portion of the valve '21 and this tube projects downwardly through the passage 14a .to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank -8 well within the liquid fuel space of the tank. Theupper end; of the inner tubev2'4 is sealed by its connection with the valve 21,

being beveled slightly as shown in Fig. 5 An intermediate or feed tube 25 of considerably greater diameter than the tube 24 mounted at :while the lower. end of" the tube 2'4 is opemt e V I outer edge of the lower end of the tube preferably ing chamber 11.

seated. The intermediate tube 25 is crimped in-" wardly to form, or is provided with, a part closure 26 at its lower end having an opening therethrough of such size as to permitthe passage of the lower end of the inner tube 24 through the opening. An outer or airsupply tube 27 of considerably greater diameter than the intermediate tube 25 surrounds the intermediate tube in coaxial relation, is secured and sealed to the tube 25 at its lower end and projects upwardly from the liquid fuel space of the tank to terminate short of the lower end of the valve body l4 within the compressed air space of the tank8. The outer tube 2'? is, of course, open at its upper end. Preferably a strainer comprising a sleeve 28 carrying a fine mesh screen 29 at its lower end is secured to the lower end of the outer tube 27 as by a screw-threaded connection.

The inner or primary liquid fuel supply tube 24 is provided with a small orifice 24a located preferably, although not necessarily, a short distance below the valve body 14. This orifice 24a is carefully drilled and regulated in size so that it will equal in size the orifice (not illustrated) leading from the generator tube 10 to the mix- Adjacent the lower end of the intermediate or feed-tube 25, a pair of diametrically opposed air openings 2541 are provided in the tube to aiford communication between the outer or air supply tube 2'7 and the feed tube 25. These openings 25a are also carefully regulated in size relative to the orifice 24a as willbe later explained.

Operation In starting the stove, valve 13 will first be opened whereupon the wheel 20 will be given from one-fourth to one-half a turn sufiicient to cause the valve 21 to be raised from its seat 15 without raising the lower end of the primary liquid fuel supply tube above the closure 26. Of course, the gasoline in tank 8 will have previously been placed under considerable air pressure and as the valve 21 is raised, gasoline will pass into the tube 24 to discharge in a fine regulated stream from the orifice 24a into the feed tube 25 well above its lower end. As the upper end of the outer air supply tube 27 is open and located within the air space of the tank 8, air will be forced downwardly through the tube- 27 and through the openings 25a into the feed tube 25 and this air will move upwardly through the feed tube until it reaches the level of the orifice 24a. At

this point the gasoline discharged from the orifice 24a will mix with the air and form a mixture of air and gasoline which runs through the lower part of passage 14a, passage 17 and conduit 18 to the generator tube 10 from whence it .will be discharged into the mixing chamber 11 to mix with additional air and thence be carried through the conduit 12 to the burner 9. A combustible mixture will be produced at the burner 9 The size of the tube 24 is such that the level of liquid fuel in the tank 8 will have little or no eifect on the passage of gasoline through the tube 24 and the discharge of gasoline from the orifice 24a in a regulated stream.' The air openings 25a areso related in size to the dis charge orifice of the generator tube 10 that air alone running through the openings 25a and supplied to the generator tube is not sufiicient for the capacity of discharge from the generator tube. Consequently, when the valve 21 is first raised, a slight vacuum will be created in the tube 25 relative to the pressure of air within the tank 8 and in the'tube 27 and this vacuum will cause the gasoline to move in a fine stream from the tube 24 through orifice 24a into tube 25.

The flame from the burner 9 will, of course, play uponthe generator tube 10 and heat up this tube to cause vaporization of the liquid fuel therein whereupon due to the small size of the orifice leading from the generator tube 10 to the mixing chamber 11, back pressure will be created in the generator tube and in the conduit 18 to retard the upward movement. of air through the a 5 feed tube 25 by reason of an accumulation of gasoline discharged from the orifice 24a in the feed tube 25. Some air, however, will continue to pass upwardly through the feed tube 25 to the generator tube 10. After the burner 9 has been operated for a short time such as the period of a minute, or until the generator tubeis quite hot, the wheel 20 may be turned to raise the valve 21 farther from its seat 15 and at the same time carry the lower end of the primary liquid fuel supply tube 24 above the closure 26. As this occurs, gasoline will quickly rush into the lower end of the feed tube 25 through the now unrestricted opening in the closure 26 whereupon the level of gasoline within the feed tube 25 will quickly raise to seal off the air openings 25a and cause gasoline to rise in the outer air supply ilG tube 27 above the level of these openings. Pure gasoline will then pass from the feed tube 25 to the generator tube 10 and theburner 9 may be continuously operated without depletion of the air supply in the tank 8. 1 i

It will be seen that an exceedingly simple feeding mechanism has been provided whichwill initially supply an instantly ignitable and free burning mixture of air and gasoline to the burner without necessitating preheating of agenerator tube and which after the generator tube has heated will supply only gasoline to the generator tube to maintain the burner in constant opera-;

tion without exhausting air from the fuel supply tank. Although the present fuel feedingmec hanism has been illustrated and described in connection with a stove using gasoline as its fuel,

it will be readily understood that the fuel feeding mechanism can be used with any type of equipment burning any liquid fuel that will vaporize. In particular it is contemplated that the mechanism of the present invention may be used with lanterns, irons, heaters, etc.

The present fuel feeding mechanism permits the burner to burn with an exceedingly clean flame at the time of starting the burner for the reason that both the air and liquid fuel are accurately measured. As the ratio used in starting has no eifect on the burning of the burner after the valve 21 is widely opened, a leaner inixture may be provided for starting the stove than usually required in starting such burners. The size of the opening through the closure 26 at the lower end of the feed tube 25 is not involved in ings a in starting e en; when, "the air in the fuel tank isunder high pressure.- The operation of the feed mechanism is consistently satisfactoryv because the changes in the ratio of liquid fueland air in starting brought about by variations in liquid fuel levels in the tank and air pressures in the tank are slight because the liquid fuel and air as admitted to the generator tube are accurately measured. I

The'presentinvention has been amply and successfully demonstrated in actual practice. -The construction including the three tubes 24, 25 and 27 together with the strainer sleeve 28 is such that these parts can all be readily withdrawn from the tank 8 with the valve bodyfl for cleaning or repair, The parts are few and simple.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-,

rangement andproportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in th appended claims. What is claimed is: 1; The combination with a liquid fuel tank adapted to contain liquid fuel under air pressure, of a fuel feeding mechanism for a burner, comprising a primary liquid fuel supply tube disposed within the tank, open at its lower end and I, closed at its upper end and having its lower end within the liquid fuel space of said tank, means operable externally of said tank for raising and lowering said tube slightly, a feed conduit mount ed in said tank and extending into the liquid fuel space of said tank to a point slightly above the lower end of said tube when said tube is lowered to its extreme position, said conduit having an aperturedclosure at'its lower end through which terior of said tank.

2. The combination with a liquid fuel tank adapted to contain liquid fuel under air pressure,

of a fuel feeding mechanism for a burner, coma prising a valve body mountedin said tank and having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat intermediate said inlet and outlet, a valve operable externally of said body and movable to and from said seat, a primary liquid fuel supply tube connected with said valve, running downwardly into the liquid fuel space of said tank, closed at its upper end, open at its lower end and having a discharge orifice spaced above its lower end, a"

supply conduit communicating with the inlet of said body, running into-the liquid fuel space of said tank and having an apertured closureat its lower end slightly above the lower end of said primary tube when said. valve is seated and through which aperture said primary tube nor-' mally extends to substantially fill the same and prevent direct passage of liquid fuel to said. conduit through said aperture, said orifice discharging into said conduit, said conduit having an air opening below said orifice and means communitube from said aperture.

cating'said airiopening withthe' hpi ssed air spacefofi'saidtank whereby saidvalv'e may be raise'dfa "short di'stance ,from it's seat without withdrawing the lower tend ofsaid primary tube from said'aperture; and said'valve may be raised further fromsaid seat to" withdraw said primary 3 The 1 combination with 'a' liquid 'fuel" tank adapted to contain liquid fuel under'air pressure, of a fuel feeding mechanism for a burner, comprising a primary liquid fuel supply tube disposed within the tank, open at its lower end, closed at its upper end and'having its lower end within the liquid fuel space of said tank, said 'primary' and'through which said primary tube extends, said feed tube extending into the liquid fuel --space of saidtank to a point slightly above the lower point of said primary tube when said pri- I mary tubeis lowered to its extreme portion and said feed tube having an apertured closure at its lower end through which said primary tube norniallyextends to fill said aperture, means affording communication between the upper end'of said feed tube and the, exterior of said tank, said primary tube as it is raised being withdrawable from said aperture, said feed tube having an air opening adjacent its lower end below said orifice and means affording communication between the air space of said tank and said air opening.

4; The combination with a liquid fuel tank adapted to contain liquid fuel under air pressure, of a fuel feeding mechanism for a burner, comprising an inner, a medial and anouter tube assembled in coaxial relationand disposed with-' in said tank, means affording communication between said medial tube and the exterior of said 1 tank, said medial tube having an apertured closure atits lower end disposed within the-liquid space of said tank and also having an air opening jtherein adjacentits lower end, said outer tube being'sealed at its lower end to said medial tube 1 and having an open upper endextending into the air space of said tank, said inner tube being closed at its upper end and projecting downwardly through the aperturedclosureof said medial tube to extend normally slightly below the lower 1 end of said medial tube to normally fill said aperture, said inner tube having an orifice communicating with said medial tube above said air opening therein, and meansv operable externally of said tankfor raising said inner tube to sucha 1 point that the lower end of the inner tube is carof afuel feedingmechanism for a burner comprisinga valve body mounted in said tank and having an inletand an outlet and a Valve seat intermediate said inlet and outlet, a'valve operable externally of said body and movable to and from said seat, aninner tube connected with and sealedto said valve at its upper end andgrunning downwardly'into' the liquid fuel space of said tank, said inner tube being open at its lower end and having a discharge orifice spaced above its lower end, a medial tube connected with and 111 communicating with the lower end of said valve body surrounding saidinnerv tube in coaxial relation and having an apertured closure at its lower end located within the liquid fuel space of said tank, and through which aperture said inner tube ner tube and means communicating said air opening with the air space of said tank. I

6. The structure defined in claim 5, said means comprising an outer tube disposed in outer coaxial relation from said medial tube, sealed to 7 said medial tube at its lower end and having an opening disposed within the air space of said tank. I

V WALTER. OLSEN 

